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Earls Colne aerodrome played a significant part in the air campaign during the Second World War. Construction of the runways started in 1941 and the Royal Air Force was using the aerodrome within 18 months. It later became the base for a succession of American units, including the 323rd Bomb Group with its B-26 Marauders.

Unknown to most people (at the time) was the airfield’s other use as a base for secret Special Operations projects, supporting resistance groups in occupied parts of Europe. A small village in Norway, whose local resistance group was supplied by parachute drops organised from here, has a photograph of Earls Colne in its local Heritage Museum.

In September 1939, children from the Alexandra School in Wood Green were evacuated to Earls Colne to be safer from the bombs which fell on London. They were looked after by local families and had lessons at the Primary School, taught by two teachers who had come with them. Most of the children returned to their homes in London when the danger had passed, but two of them and one of the teachers decided to settle in Earls Colne.